Fractional CISO
Enterprise-grade security leadership, startup-friendly
Security leadership for growing companies. Build your security program, achieve compliance, and manage risk without hiring a full-time executive.
No prep required. We'll share a plan within 48 hours.
Ideal For
- Series A-C companies pursuing SOC 2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA
- B2B SaaS companies with enterprise customers asking about security
- FinTech and HealthTech companies with regulatory requirements
- Companies preparing for security due diligence
- Organizations after a security incident needing program rebuild
Not Ideal For
- Companies needing 24/7 SOC monitoring (we can help you find one)
- Highly regulated enterprises requiring full-time on-site presence
- Organizations looking for penetration testing only
- Very early startups without production systems
Expected Outcomes
Measurable results observed in past engagements.
SOC 2 Type I readiness from zero baseline
Reduction in security questionnaire response time
Critical vulnerabilities in production (maintained)
Results vary based on baseline maturity, scope, and adoption. These metrics reflect past results and are not a guarantee. Case studies
What's Included
- Security program development and governance
- Risk assessment and management framework
- Compliance roadmap (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, etc.)
- Security policy development and implementation
- Vendor security review program
- Incident response planning and tabletops
- Security awareness training program
- Board and customer security presentations
Out of Scope
- 24/7 security monitoring (SOC operations)
- Penetration testing execution (we manage vendors)
- Day-to-day security operations
- Full-time on-site presence
- Legal counsel (we work with your legal team)
Need something not listed? We can customize the engagement to your needs.
What You'll Receive
Security Program Charter
Comprehensive security strategy aligned with business goals
Risk Register
Prioritized risk inventory with treatment plans
Policy Library
Security policies tailored to your organization
Compliance Roadmap
Step-by-step path to your target compliance framework
Incident Response Plan
Documented procedures for security incidents
Vendor Security Process
Framework for evaluating third-party security
Timeline
Typical engagement: 3-6 months (renewable)
Assessment & Foundation
- Current state security assessment
- Gap analysis against target framework
- Risk assessment and prioritization
- Quick wins and critical fixes
Program Build
- Policy development and approval
- Control implementation planning
- Tool selection and deployment
- Training program launch
Compliance Execution
- Evidence collection automation
- Control testing and validation
- Auditor relationship management
- Continuous monitoring setup
Maturation & Maintenance
- Program optimization
- Audit support
- Ongoing risk management
- Security culture development
What We'll Need From You
Active support from CEO/founder for security initiatives
Collaboration with teams implementing controls
Any current policies, procedures, or compliance efforts
List of third-party services and internal tools
How We Work Together
Engagement Model
Remote with optional on-site visits
Cadence
2-3 days per week of dedicated time
Communication
Slack/email with same-day response; weekly syncs
Pricing
Pricing varies based on compliance scope and company size. Minimum 3-month commitment.
Foundation
- 2 days/week dedicated time
- Single compliance framework
- Core policy development
- Monthly risk reviews
- Email/Slack support
Growth
- 3 days/week dedicated time
- Multi-framework compliance
- Full policy library
- Vendor security program
- Incident response planning
- Customer security support
Enterprise
- 4+ days/week as needed
- Complex regulatory environments
- M&A security due diligence
- Board-level reporting
- Multi-region compliance
- Custom deliverables
Frequently Asked Questions
We've never had a security program. Is that okay?
Absolutely—that's exactly why fractional CISO engagements exist. We'll build your program from the ground up, prioritizing based on your risk profile and compliance requirements.
How do you work with our engineering team?
We collaborate closely with engineering to ensure security controls are practical and integrated into your development workflow. We understand that security can't slow down delivery.
Can you help us pass security questionnaires?
Yes. We'll build a security posture that answers common questionnaires and help you create a 'trust center' to reduce the burden of repetitive responses.
What if we have a security incident?
We'll lead the response, coordinate with your team, and manage external communications. We also conduct tabletop exercises to prepare for incidents before they happen.
Do you manage security tools?
We help select and configure security tools but don't provide ongoing SOC monitoring. We can recommend and manage vendor relationships for continuous monitoring.
Security & Access
We practice what we preach. All our systems are SOC 2 compliant, we use encrypted communications, and we maintain strict access controls. We'll never ask for access we don't need.
Get Started
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Request an Assessment
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Book a Discovery Call
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